The Truth About Lies (An Inheritance Cycle Fanfiction)

*Tabatha's POV*

I awoke in the early morning hours, the grey winter dawn hanging below the horizon outside the window as I stared out at the empty streets. After a somewhat good night's sleep I found that I could sit up on my own now. There was still a sharp pain in my side, but it wasn't as unbearable as yesterday. I slowly pulled myself out of bed, the sharp pains worse in my rib cage and lungs. I must have broken a rib. I had heard Gertrude say something about my lung being pierced to Brom and Eragon yesterday. A broken rib was the only logical explanation I could think of.

I reached for my boots and pulled them over the clean pants I'd dug out of a drawer in the dresser Uncle Horst had made for me when I was a child. I had a new tunic as well since the other one was completely ruined. It was long-sleeved, unlike the other one. Slowly, I got up and pulled my winter cloak from the chair by my bed and clasped it around my shoulders.

I didn't think anyone was awake yet so I crept out into the hallway. I knew where my dagger had been put because it was where Aunt Elain had put it when I'd first received it from Brom. She disapproved and didn't want me having it, but I'd finally convinced her to let me keep it. The dagger would definitely be in the hall closet around the corner.

I quietly tiptoed around the corner and opened up the closet. Sure enough, it was sitting on the shelf second from the top; Aunt Elain wasn't tall enough to reach the top shelf. I grabbed it and stuck it in my right bootleg. Quickly, I began to walk down the hall to go down the stairs to leave, but a peculiar sight out of the corner of my eye in my room stopped me. Eragon was looking around in confusion at my empty bed. I stood in the doorway and looked on in amusement. He opened the window and stuck his head out, peering down into the streets.

"Turn around, silly," I said, startling him. He jumped, hitting his head on the open window. Rubbing the back of his head, he slowly turned around.

"What are you doing out of bed?" he asked quizzically. "And fully dressed at that?"

"I might be asking you the same question," I replied with a cocked eyebrow. An innocent look spread across his face. "Just where were you planning on going at this time in the morning?" He rolled his eyes and huffed.

"I'm leaving Carvahall," he said, "for mine and Saphira's safety. I came here to tell you that I would be back soon and that I am going after those strangers that destroyed the farm and killed Garrow."

"Uh-huh," I said, convoluting my mouth for a moment. "So when do we leave?" Eragon's eyes widened.

"Oh no. Tabatha, you're not coming with us," he protested.

"And why not?" I demanded quietly, taking care not to wake everyone in the house. He could tell that my anger was rising for a flash of fear crossed his face.

"You're not well enough yet, Tabby. Your lung is pierced and I would not endanger you by having you come on this journey," he argued.

"Look at me," I said, holding my arms out to my sides. "I'm well enough to be walking around when I could barely talk yesterday." He seemed to ponder this for a moment. "You asked me once to go on this journey with you, remember? And I told you that I would. I am going to keep my oath whether you like it or not." He sighed in defeat.

"Fine," he grumbled, "let's get going before everyone in town wakes up." I smiled happily and followed closely behind him down the stairs. When we were about to leave the house, Eragon stopped. I heard voices in the other room. I recognized them as my aunt and uncle's and they were locked in conversation.

"...place to stay. We have room." My uncle replied in an inaudible bass rumble. "Yes, the poor boy," my aunt replied.

"Maybe..." Uncle Horst said. There was a long pause. "I've been thinking about what Eragon said, and I'm not sure he told us everything."